Post # 1
Member
1041 posts
Bumble bee
Hi bees,
SO and I are deciding on our venue. We’ve really narrowed it down to the Loew’s Madison. It’s a 4.5 star hotel and our guests will get a $150 room rate. I am confident my family will be okay with the splurge, especially for 2 nights, 3 meals and a hotel within walking distance of the National Mall in DC. However, SOs family is less well off. I’m nervous that some of his cousins won’t come because of the cost. What do you think bees – would you come to an incredibly nice weekend to celebrate our wedding, or think I’m too much for him? Should we do something simpler? I’d really like to do what I can/want to and not feel snobby.
Post # 3
Member
1846 posts
Buzzing bee
You said –
I’d really like to do what I can/want to and not feel snobby
so just do that. Do want you want, and don’t feel snobby. People either will be able to come, or they won’t.
Post # 4
Member
217 posts
Helper bee
@Washingtonian: $150 a night seems reasonable to me. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better rate at a nice hotel in D.C. But, that being said, I completely understand where you’re coming from.
Post # 5
Member
9549 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Couldn’t they find another hotel, if they don’t like the $150 one? I mean I had blocks reserved at one hotel that was right by the wedding, but there were lots of guests that stayed at other places.
Post # 6
Member
1041 posts
Bumble bee
@JenGirl: that’s what I was thinking about doing, but September would be tough. I could probably find something 1-2 miles away but it might cost $100-150 and it wouldn’t be any 4.5 star hotel!
Post # 7
Member
993 posts
Busy bee
@Washingtonian: thats actually a good price, I live in PG County MD and thats the best price ive seen for DC. most hotels 4 star + are easy $300+ in that location. i think its okay. maybe consider Save-The-Date Cards or placing it on a website or even just plain word of mouth so they can start saving if its really that big of a deal, but I honestly think its fine.
Post # 8
Member
971 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Banff, Alberta
@Washingtonian: The room rate the hotel is giving us (discounted by like 40% for wedding guests) is $165 a night. Most people will be staying two nights. It is one of the cheapest places you can stay in other than hostels. I wouldn’t worry about it, if it a big deal they can get a hotel some where else or hotwire it.
Post # 9
Member
8041 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
$150 a night is actually a pretty good rate for a decent hotel.
Post # 10
Member
9549 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@Washingtonian: I wasn’t saying that you needed to find anything else! I was just saying that if someone has an issue with the hotel they an find something on their own. If your broke college friend can’t afford the nice hotel at $150 (which is a great price for that location) then she can look into a cheap hotel or couch surfing or whatever. But you don’t need to worry about it. I think you found a great deal for your guests and I’d leave it at that. If they want something else, they can look aruond.
Post # 11
Member
7689 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Will some be able to make it for only 1 night @ $150? Or will they need to stay 2 nights? How far do they have to travel? For $150/for one night, plus a meal or two, without a lot more travel, it seems it would work for most people at least with advance notice, AND that’s a GREAT PRICE especially for that area. For $300 for 2 nights plus paying for 3 more meals and an airline ticket, rental car, it would be a lot harder for some people I would think.
Post # 12
Member
1041 posts
Bumble bee
@creativeplannertobee: these are people driving 2 hours from maryland. they only have to pay for one meal, and entertainment in dc is all free. so it’s 300-350$ for a weekend in dc. because they are SO’s family, it would be weird if they didn’t come friday night to the rehearsal dinner, since it’s his parents who are throwing that party.
thanks to everyone for the responses, wow! they will get 9 months notice to save up at least.
Post # 13
Member
8695 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Why cant you just have a room block at a less expensive hotel and have a shuttle if it would be that bad for them? I dont think $150 is bad for DC but that doesnt mean others wont.
Post # 14
Member
7689 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
(Is this just one cousin? Or many of his family members?) That’s a great deal if they can afford it! (I was just wondering if they could only afford one night vs. two nights stay, if it could be done, or if the hotel was saying a minimum of two nights stay.)
Post # 15
Member
8446 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@Washingtonian: Honestly, that’s a pretty good rate in a major city. If I were traveling to DC, NY, SF, Tokyo, etc, I’d expect to pay $150-$200 per night on the low end. Plus if people are really strapped for money, they can always just stay for 1 night, or maybe you or FI’s parents can help them out by paying for part of their stay.
Post # 16
Member
3400 posts
Sugar bee
Unless we were really close to the person getting married there is no way my husband & I would attend a wedding where we had to stay overnight & pay $150 a night. I understand that that price is reasonable for the DC area though.
